Ratchet-wrench.



J. B. HAMPTON.

RATCHET WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1908.

JOSEPH B. HAMPTON, OF VAN WERT, IOWA.

RATCHE T-WRE NCI-I.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 13, 1908.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Serial No. 420,937.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn B. HAMPTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Van WVert, in the county of Decatur and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Ratchetrench, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a ratchet wrench of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, and of few parts.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a horizontal sectional view through the head of the wrench. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the wrench, and Fig. 3 shows a top or plan view of the wrench, the position of the ratchet and co-acting parts being shown by dotted lines.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the complete wrench is seen to be composed of a handle which may be of any desired length or size, and which is provided with an enlarged head 11, on one side of which is an integral pawl 12, and on the other side an integral guide arm 13.

The nut receiving device comprises a cylindrical body portion 14 having a central opening extended through it designed to receive a nut or other object to be engaged. The said opening is so arranged that a nut may be inserted in it from either side. The periphery of the nut receiving portion is provided with ratchet teeth 16 at the longitudinal center thereof, and above and below the ratchet teeth are the bearing portions 17 and 18.

I have provided for supporting the nut receiving portion on the handle by means of two plates 19 and 20, each having a round opening therein to receive one of said bearing portions, and each having a rearward extension 21 and 22 to project over the adjacent portion of the handle 10. These plates are pivotally connected with the handle 10 by the pivot pin 23, or an equivalent pivoting device.

Assuming that the device in the position shown in Fig. 3, is placed upon a nut, then the operator grasps the end of the handle and pulls downwardly upon it. This causes the pawl 12 to engage with one of the ratchet teeth 16, and turn the nut engaging portion. WVhen at the end of the stroke, the operator then reverses the movement of the end of the handle, thus causing the handle to turn on the pivot pin 23 so that the pawl 12 disengages from the ratchet teeth, and the guide arm 13 rests against the ratchet teeth and freely slides over them without moving the nut engaging portion. This action may be repeated indefinitely until the nut is turned as far as desired. Obviously, there are no springs or other devices that are likely to get out of order, and the action of the device both in engaging the ratchet teeth, and in moving backwardly over them, is positive and effective.

If it is desired to reverse the movement of the nut, the operator simply turns the wrench so that its opposite side is placed upon the nut, whereupon the nut may be turned in the opposite direction by an oscillating movement imparted to the end of the handle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An improved ratchet wrench comprising a handle having on one side of one end a fixed pawl, and on the other side of the same end a fixed guide arm, two plates pivotally connected to the handle and arranged on opposite sides of said pawl and guide arm, a nut engaging device rotatably mounted between the said plates and arranged to be capable of continuous rotary movement therein, said nut engaging device having a central nut opening extended through it, and also having on its periphery a series of ratchet teeth, each having one inclined face and one face substantially radial, said teeth being extended all around the said nut engaging portion, and said parts being so shaped and arranged that the said pawl tooth will engage the ratchet wheel 011 one side of its center, and the said guide arm will engage the ratchet teeth on the other side of its center, to thereby impart to the ratchet wheel a continuous rotary motion when the handle is reciprocated.

Des Moines, Iowa, Feb. 7, 1908.

JOSEPH B. HAMPTON.

WVitnesses:

W. A. IRVING, J. A. HANKS. 

